§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy that doctors agreeing to termination of pregnancies and, in particular, late terminations, on grounds of risks of deformity in the foetus, include a specific statement of the anticipated deformity on the relevant form; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Abortion Act requires that where a termination is considered because of risk of foetal deformity, two doctors should be of the opinion that there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped. Regulations made under the Act require that the doctor who performs the termination notifies our Chief Medical Officer and provides other information. In the case of terminations carried out because of risk of foetal abnormality, the doctor is required to state the diagnosis or suspected condition.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why his Department collects no figures on the accuracy of the medical diagnosis relating to the grounds on which an abortion is granted.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeRegulations made under the Abortion Act require doctors performing abortions to notify them to our Chief Medical Officer and to provide other information, including the medical diagnosis. In cases of foetal abnormality, it would not always be possible to determine whether the condition suspected was in fact present.